Airport Design Questioned After Jeju Air Crash Near Concrete Wall
A Boeing 737-800, Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, tragically crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, killing 179 of the 181 people on board. Experts are now questioning whether the airport’s design contributed to the severity of the accident. The plane belly-landed on the runway with its landing gear and flaps retracted, before colliding with a mound of dirt and a concrete wall at the end of the runway. This area housed a localizer, a device that helps guide planes onto the runway, but aviation experts suggest the design of the airport could have worsened the situation.
Todd Curtis, founder of Air Safe Media, explained that the mound of dirt and the concrete wall made it difficult for the plane to stop safely, which likely contributed to the fatalities. The plane burst into flames after hitting these obstacles, causing further harm to the passengers. Curtis, a former Boeing safety engineer, emphasized that the installation of barriers at the end of runways is a common safety measure. For instance, airports like New York’s LaGuardia have engineered material arresting systems (EMAS) that slow down a plane after it overshoots the runway, minimizing damage and potential fatalities. In the case of the Jeju Air crash, however, it appears the concrete barrier at the end of the runway was not designed to break apart, which made it more dangerous.
Video footage of the crash shows the plane skidding along the runway before hitting the concrete wall, which was reportedly the point where fatalities occurred. Aviation safety consultant John Cox, who is also a Boeing 737 pilot, said that the cause of death for most passengers was likely blunt force trauma from the impact with the wall.
Initial investigations suggest that a bird strike could have played a role in the crash, potentially leading to engine failure. However, experts warn that the investigation is still in the early stages, and more details will be uncovered as officials examine aircraft maintenance records, pilot scheduling, and cockpit voice recordings.
This crash is the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea in recent years and has raised questions about airport design and safety measures, particularly regarding barriers at the end of runways. Investigators will likely focus on whether the barrier could have been designed to break apart, as well as other factors that contributed to the crash. For now, the aviation community is awaiting further developments from the investigation.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com